Maybe You Can Teach An Old Dog New Tricks
Photo by Brixiv
I’ve lived in and loved Austin for over 50 years—a proud graduate of UT Austin, just like my father before me.
I was there the day Charles Whitman, a Marine marksman, climbed the 27 floors of the UT tower and forever changed our city. I have witnessed three UT Football Championships—none more memorable than the 1969 “Big Shootout” against Arkansas. Two undefeated teams, #1 vs. #2, President Nixon flew in with a young Henry Kissinger and Congressman George Bush aboard Air Force One to present the title. It was Darrell Royal’s second championship.
So please grant me a little grace, especially our Canadian friends, who might care more about the first Austin City Limits, Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic, or SXSW—all firsts I also witnessed. I’ve watched Austin grow through at least five distinct skylines—from under 300,000 people in the ‘70s to the 13th largest U.S. city. Marlene and I got married here in ’86 before co-founding Momentum. It’s a truly remarkable place to live.
But lately, we’ve been asking, “Is it time to go somewhere else?”
Personally, I feel like Austin may have outgrown me—or maybe I’ve out-aged it.
Heading to one of our favorite cities! Momentum started here 30+ years ago!
So this spring, we rented our home for four months and took Momentum on the road—a bold experiment with uncertain outcomes beyond exploration. We’re currently in Sarasota, Florida, after spending three weeks in Belize. From here, we’ll head to the Frio River in southwest Texas, then travel the California coast, and finally wrap up in the Ruidoso area of New Mexico.
Photo by Craig Clark
“Have momentum, will travel.”
Pre-COVID, our work—executive retreats, off-sites, coaching—kept us traveling 40% of the time. But then came 2020: a complete STOP! A stunned, quarantined nation sat at home wondering WTF?
Although travel is slowly returning, our routines have felt stale. We wanted a shake-up—to think differently, live differently, and reconnect with the fundamentals that matter.
Being nomadic has been strange, and we’re only halfway through. We’ve certainly worked on the road before, however, life on the road is very different. It feels… well, maybe like retirement. And honestly, I don’t especially like it.
I do not think I am alone?
The Culture Pulse: Gallup's 2024 Global Workplace Report
Recent findings from Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2024 show some interesting trends:
WFH engagement: up
Hybrid: down a bit
WFO: down significantly
Well-being: down across the board
It now takes more intentionality than ever to stay engaged and maintain well-being vibrancy, especially in this turbulent environment. Fear, confusion, and uncertainty are almost always focused on imagined future events. In other words about things that have not happened yet!
The future has a mind of its own. As much as we might try, our efforts to shape or foretell it are puny.
There is an uncertainty rippling through our cultures. Political divisions, economic unease, climate warnings—it all feels like we’re near a tipping point. ( Malcolm Gladwell) Uncertainty in the face of not knowing where we are going, especially in fast-moving times, has always disturbed us.
Do we have power over circumstance? I am reminded of Viktor Frankl’s words:
“In the face of all circumstances, at any moment we have the power and freedom to choose our response.”
— Viktor Frankl, A Man’s Search for Meaning
Fear, like suffering, is overwhelming—but optional. Reaction is automatic. Response is conscious.
The power to choose our response, moment by moment, is how we shape the future, or it is shaped by reaction. To create a future, one must determine the actions and behaviors that will bring it about. That is the source of the “fundamentals” that help guide us in work and life. These behaviors aren’t theoretical—they’re to be lived. Like marriage, they challenge us daily, and they require work.
Our first, a platform that drives the rest, “Act with Integrity.” (You can explore all 26 on our website here.)
These fundamentals guide how we think, work, and live. They’re a strategy for leadership—and for life.
So, where will the future take us and Momentum? We’re still figuring it out.
For now, we’re embracing our nomadic chapter, shaking up old routines, and leaning into fundamental #10: Keep Things Fun—and of course, #26: Continuously Seek to Improve the Difference You Make.
May the Force be with you—wherever I am, Austin, you will always be supreme in my heart!
Sit and breathe, then play…work will survive!
Cheers,
Fundamental of the Week #3: SPEAK STRAIGHT, RESPECTFULLY
Address issues directly with those involved, even if it feels uncomfortable. Speak honestly, clearly, and respectfully in a way that moves the action forward. Ask questions for clarity and share ideas. Check for understanding.
Momentum Consulting offers executive business coaching, top-level executive consulting, team training, and team off-sites to build and transform your business to the next level. Inquire about business consulting and leadership coaching today.
